88 Seven Years in the Soudan.

CHAPTER XT.

AT LAlt('».

Lado, headquarters — Elephant in the camp — Long returns from Uganda — The sheikh of Lado — 12,000 oxen — Crocodiles — Ernest Linant de Bellefonds — Chippendale and Watson — The Khedive — Marno and Hansal — Death of niy son — Banquet of Yussuf Bey — Kaka in danger — Deatli of Yussuf Bey — Assault of Kaka by the Shilluks — Eeturn to F;ishoda.

GoNiiQKORO, by its topographical position, was unsuitable for liead-quarters and the centre of operations. Durinof the summer the water is low and the nusrars and steamers can with difficulty approach the land if fully laden, while the wood for domestic uses and naval works must be taken from a forest two hours distant. The climate is unhealthy on account of the stagnant water, and the soil sandy and unfit for cultivation.

A station had been built at Rejaf , not because this place afforded all the conditions desired, but only for its strategical position.

Ladu presented fewer inconveniences ; there the waters of the Nile are deep, a neighbouring forest covers an immense extent of land, the soil is fertile, and the climate better than at Gondokoro. The Commander having resolved to fix his head-quarters there, I had orders, on October 12th, to repair to Lado for the necessary materials. On October 14th T embarked on this account on the steamer Bordeen with fifty soldiers, and the same day arrived at my destination without meeting hostility of any kind on the part of the natives. The point chosen by me for the station